Tillie Radford, the 16-year-old daughter of Sue and Noel Radford from 22 Kids and Counting, is making good progress after a 10-hour operation on her leg last month. Sue Radford has now shared a fresh update with the family's followers on Instagram.
Tillie underwent a complex procedure to reconstruct her knee and further lengthen her leg at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool. She has been recovering with physiotherapy and returned home with her parents a few weeks ago.
Surgeon happy with Tillie's recovery
In a recent Instagram post, Sue told their 539,000 followers that the surgeon is "happy" with Tillie, who has been able to gain movement back in her knee. Posting a photo of Tillie looking pleased, Sue wrote: "Tillie with her gas and air mouth piece which she asked to bring home, she did AMAZING today with the procedure to have the rod removed from just below her knee.
"The surgeon is happy that she will now be able to get movement back in her knee, he's also really happy with how the lengthening is going we are now over half way with that which is amazing. Onwards and upwards now."
The photo shows a beaming Tillie holding the device and a carton of juice, appearing to be heading home from hospital, wheeled out through the car park.
Fans show support
Fans have offered their support in response to the update. One said: "Tillie you are a lovely girl, you've had a tough time but you're 'getting there'. Well done, your family will look after you." Another added: "Oh bless her. Tillie is showing so much strength. Keep going Tillie half way through now. Sending love to you." Others described the news as "fantastic".
What happened to Tillie's leg?
Tillie developed a severe bone infection at 18 months old after doctors drilled onto her bone for line access during treatment for a prolonged febrile convulsion. The infection damaged her growth plate, leaving her left leg about 3.5cm shorter than her right.
In 2019, she had an external mechanical lengthening frame fitted when she was nine. Last month, she went to Alder Hey Children's Hospital for the 10-hour operation to reconstruct her knee and lengthen the leg.
In a Facebook post, the family said they were "honestly so incredibly proud of Tillie" and described her as "absolutely amazing" throughout the procedure. However, her pain recently returned, with her parents ringing the hospital at 1:30am to help Tillie through a "really rough night".
Tillie, who has finished secondary school, is now focused on making a full recovery and plans to look into higher education and college applications. 22 Kids and Counting continues every Sunday at 8pm on Channel 5.
